Shoulder-brace.



'J. U'. ADAMS.

SHOULDER BEACH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1908.

I Patented N0v.23, 1909.

in VEJYUJ Mi 3755555. of fi w TlNTTED STATES- PATENT OFFTBE.

JOEL U. ADAMS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SHOULDER-BEACH To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL U. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Braces; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the accompanying drawing, with the reference characters marked thereon, which forms also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an appliance to be used for orthopedical and therapeutical purposes, to cure or improve certain defects in shape or carriage of the upper part of the body, and to induce also young persons, and particularly children, to assume and maintain the upper part of the body in proper position.

The invention consists of an appliance constructed and made up as described hereinafter and pointed out in the claim and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows the appliance as it appears when in position on a person, part of a human figure being indicated in dotted outlines. Fig. 2 shows a certain metal fitting used in connection with this appliance. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section through this fitting and between its ends.

The function of this appliance is to apply elastic pressure from the front against the thorax above the clavicle, without in any way interfering with the free motion of the arms at the shoulder-joint, nor producin pressure in the arm-pits.

The appliance consists of two straps A A, which by being placed and arranged accordingly, and as shown in Fig. 1, serve to carry out the function of the appliance and also hold the same in proper position. For such purpose, each of these straps comprises first a part which serves to apply pressure from the front against the axillar portions of the thorax. These parts are indicated at 55, and are held in pressure-exerting position by being turned back, above over the shoulders as shown at 66, and below under the arms to the middle of the back as shown at 77, these back turned parts constituting practically straps for holding the pressure-exerting parts 55 in proper position to carry out their designated function. Above, the shoulder-portions 66 of the straps are ar- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 13, 1908.

Patented Nov. 23, 1999.

Serial No. 462,456.

ranged at an angle to each other, so as to come together below the shoulders, leaving the neck entirely clear as shown in the drawing, the ends being properly secured and held. Below, back-portions 77 of the straps come together and after crossing each other at this point, are continued around and returned to the front, these two continuations, constituting parts of a belt 8-8, the ends of which are brought together in front of the abdomen where they are connected to each other and thereby hold the appliance in position on the body. This connection may be by any suitable means, preferably such which permit adjustment of the point where the connection is to be made to suit the size of) girth, a buckle for instance, answering best the purpose. It may be an ordinary one, or adouble one, as shown at B, so that in case the belt-portions are too long, it may be shifted back on one of the straps'to maintain a central position.

Obviously, the shoulder-portions 66 would not maintain their angular relation as shown in the drawing, but tend to straighten out and slip up toward the neck, as soon as the belt-portion of the appliance is drawn tight around the body. To prevent this I provide a tie C, to the upper end of which the ends of the shoulder-straps 66 are secured in any suitable way, preferably by stitching, as shown at c. The lower end of this tie is connected where the two straps come together at the back. Except where an appliance is made up to a fixed size, to suit a particular case, it is preferable to make this connection by means of a fitting which serves substantially as a coupling to hold the ends of back-portions 7 7 in position where they come together, the connection being such as to permit adjustment of the length of these back-portions. The pressure-exerting action of the device is regulated by this adjustment. Such a coupling is shown at D, and consists substantially of a plate of suitable outline, and slotted to permit attachment of the parts to be connected to it.

There is a horizontal slot 9 which receives the lower end of tie C, and two upright slots 1010, with a bar d between them. Straps A A, are passed through these upright slots in opposite direction, first through one slot and then through the other, each passing across bar d, upon which they cross each other. In order to obviate an abrupt kink in the straps where they pass over this center bar, this latter may be offset more or less from the plane of the plate as shown in Fig. 3. The turn of the straps across this bar (Z presents suflicient frictional resistance, when the appliance is under tension, to prevent them from slipping so that their position at that time becomes immovable and any particular adjustment is readily maintained.

The pressure of parts 55 against the front of the thorax is adjusted by the length of back portions 77 as determined by a point in their length where they are engaged and held by coupling D. The position of this coupling is determined and maintained by the belt, the two parts 88 of which are adjusted to proper length by the adjustable position of buckle B. Coupling 1) being thus held in proper position by the belt, is also enabled to hold back-straps T-7 suf ficiently low to prevent interference with the movement of the arms and cutting in the arm-pits. Tie C, firmly held at its lower end by this coupling, also holds shoulder-straps 66 in their proper angular position below the neck.

Straps AA, and tie C are preferably made of elastic material.

Means serving as garment-supporters, for hose or trousers, may be attached to the beltportions 8-8. Straps 11-11. to be used for such purpose are shown connected at their upper ends to the belt.

Having described my invention, 1 claim as new:

A shoulder brace consisting of two straps connected to each other at an angle below the neck of the wearer, a tie-strap permanently connected at its upper end to the straps at their junction and a slotted fitting permanently connected to the lower end of this tie, the straps extending from their junction over the shoulders and down in front rearwardly t0 the slotted fitting which they adjustably engage and where they cross each other in opposite directions, the straps being continued from this fitting around the body to the front forming a belt and means to secure the ends of the straps to each other to close this belt.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOEL U. ADAMS.

Vfitnesses C. SPENGEL, T. LE BEAU. 

